Is by-passing councils the answer to social housing crisis?

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The problem with social housing waiting lists has been rumbling on for some time with waits of up to a decade in various local authority areas around the country for people to be housed.

The matter shows no real signs of abating in the short term with reports earlier this week revealing that not one of the 1,700 homes promised more than a year ago under a €312m investment programme have as yet been built.

As of February this year there were approximately 139,539 people on social housing waiting lists nationwide with councils criticised for their lack of progressing in dealing with the list.

Last year out of a total of 12,666 homes built nationwide only 72 were by city or county councils – a total of just under 0.6%.

Earlier this week the Association of Irish Local Government claimed that local authorities needed more than €5.5 billion to be made available over the next five years to address the houing crisis.

Now it appears that local councils are set to be sidelined as part of a process to speed up house building nationwide.

The report also claims that Minister Coveney is also considering further by-passing councils by fast-tracking big building projects to An Bord Pleanála to speed up decisions and minimise delays through procedures and objections.

The housing strategy will also include a special emphasis on increasing the supply of “starter homes” for first-time buyers in Dublin.

The report further claims that the Government are now acknowledging that the housing system is totally broken.

With this in mind, let us know your thoughts on the matter:

Are the proposed changes too little, too late?

What can be done to ensure that more social houses are built around the country?